North Carolina State has already shown it can get production from all over the roster, and Friday night offers another chance to put that depth on display.
The unbeaten Wolfpack are set to host Troy in non-conference play in Raleigh, N.C., with NC State carrying a 3-0 record into the matchup after three double-digit victories. The latest came Tuesday, a 94-60 rout of Presbyterian in which starting forward Ven-Allen Lubin powered the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
But the biggest takeaway from that win may have been what happened behind him. Christian Hammond came off the bench to score 13 points, hit three 3-pointers and add four steals, while Zymicah Wilkins also delivered 13 points and seven rebounds. In all, NC State’s reserves accounted for 41 points.
“Their impact when they come in is tremendous,” Gainey said. “There’s a comfort level as a coach, when they come in, there’s no drop off.
Our bench is going to be key. Our depth is going to be key.”
Gainey also singled out Wilkins after the sophomore had scored only four total points over the first two games.
“I think he’s just scratching the surface of who he can be,” Gainey said.
Troy arrives with a little momentum of its own after earning its first win of the season Tuesday, a 74-69 overtime comeback against Loyola Marymount. The Trojans erased a 15-point second-half deficit and got a lift from their bench as well, with Caua Pacheco scoring 17 points and Sam Walters adding 11.
Jacoi Hutchinson and Donovan Oday led Troy’s starters with 18 and 16 points, respectively.
“Really tough, gritty win for our group,” Troy coach Adam Howard said. “One we’ve been trying to get for a few weeks; didn’t feel like it was ever going to get there. But that’s just who we’ve been in practice, so we knew the way these guys work and how they compete every day, eventually we were going to get on the right side of it.”
Howard was an assistant coach at NC State last season.
In Other News...
Philip Rivers NC State Salary Says Plenty About The Programs Next Era
NC States next era comes with a price tag that says as much about the programs ambitions as its budget realities. Philip Rivers is in on a five-year contract reportedly worth $18.25 million, and the deal starts with a 2027 salary of $3.25 million, a figure that would sit near the bottom of the ACC when stacked against other reported head-coaching pay for the 2026 season.
The financial picture is shaped by more than just the new contract, though. Dave Doerens buyout remains part of the conversation, and Rivers arrives with only high school coaching experience on his rsum, which makes the transition all the more notable for a program trying to reset without losing sight of the costs that come with change. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Rivers Is Already Dividing Opinion After NC State Hire
Philip Rivers move into the NC State head coaching job has already sparked a familiar split in football circles, with the reaction ranging from admiration to caution. The former NFL quarterback arrives with a reputation for toughness, competitiveness and leadership, and that alone has made the hire one of the most talked-about stories in the sport this week.
At the same time, the conversation has quickly turned to the realities of the job, especially the leap from playing at the highest level to running a college program with no prior coaching background. Voices like Ian Rapoport, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban and Jim Rome have all weighed in, and the debate around Rivers now centers on whether his presence and football mind can translate fast enough to calm the skeptics and shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Let Bowl Hopes Slip Away In Brutal Syracuse Collapse
NC State had the game in hand late in the third quarter, only to watch it unravel in painful fashion against Syracuse. The Wolfpack built a 15-point lead and seemed poised to put themselves in solid position for bowl eligibility, but the finish turned into a nightmare as the offense stalled and the momentum flipped in a hurry.
CJ Baileys late turnovers opened the door for Syracuse, and linebacker Chris DAppolonia made the play that slammed it shut with the game-sealing interception. The loss left NC State at 4-6 with two games left, turning what looked like a manageable path to a bowl into a must-scramble finish. [Read more 🡒]